Amsterdam to Maastricht

Day-To-Day Itinerary

Amsterdam to Maastricht:

Day 1: Amsterdam - Weesp
Day 2: Weesp - Vianen, 27 mi. (45 km)| Utrecht - Vianen
Day 3: Vianen - Gorinchem, 29 mi. (49 km) | Gorinchem - Heusden 
Day 4: Heusden – Maasbommel | Maasbommel – Cuijck, 24 mi. (40 km)
Day 5: Cuijck – Arcen, 29 mi. (48 km) 
Day 6: Arcen – Venlo – Roermond, 31 mi. (52 km) 
Day 7: Roermond – Born| Born – Maastricht, 25 mi. (42 km)
Day 8: Maastricht

Daily distances range from 19 to 28 miles (30 - 45 km).

*The above planned itinerary is subject to change due to changing wind and weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances having to do with mooring requirements, etc.

Day 1: Amsterdam - Weesp
The barges will be moored at the Oosterdok. Boarding will be complete by 2 pm, after which the barge will set sail to Weesp at 2:30 pm. Once fortified and now with a protected historical center, several of the bastions, moats, and forts still survive. Many canals and buildings date from the 17th and 18th century. Weesp has three full size historical windmills. With its quiet charm, small bridges, and picturesque canals, Weesp is the perfect first stop after Amsterdam.

Day 2: Weesp - Vianen, 27 mi. (45 km)| Utrecht - Vianen
You will cycle along the beautiful meandering Vecht River. The Vecht region consists of centuries-old villages, expanses of flat and watery pasture land punctuated by windmills, castles, and dozens of mansions built by Amsterdam merchants as weekend retreat. Lunch stop will be at a cheese farm with the opportunity to try cheese, homemade bread, buttermilk, and ice cream. There is also a tour around the farm. The barge awaits in the city of Utrecht and from there you will sail the Amsterdam-Rhine canal to Vianen, a small fortified town on the river Lek.

Day 3: Vianen - Gorinchem, 29 mi. (49 km) | Gorinchem - Heusden 
Through a typical Dutch landscape, along the Merwedekanaal, the route leads to to Leerdam a little town on the banks of the river Linge. Leerdam is famous for its glasswork and there will be opportunity to visit a glass blower. Later you continue biking on the beautiful roads along the Linge to Gorinchem, a charming town on the river Waal. After a visit, you may join the barge to Heusden. If you want to bike some more, you can continue biking through the land of Maas en Waal. Heusden is a very nicely restored fortified city.

Day 4: Heusden – Maasbommel | Maasbommel – Cuijck, 24 mi. (40 km) 
During breakfast the ship sails from Heusden to Maasbommel, a village on the Maas river. Here your bike tour will start, leading you along the Maas river to cities such as Ravenstein and Grave. Both are medieval cities. In Ravenstein you can visit the Tanner’s Cottages and in Grave you will see canons from the time of Napoleon. Grave has also played an important role in Operation Market Garden during the second world war, because it was situated near an important bridge. This bridge is now called John S. Thompson Bridge. Following the Maas river you will meet the barge in Cuijk where you will spend the night. The St. Martins Church, a neo-gothic church houses very well kept baroc-organ (built 1639-1650). This organ is one of the oldest in the Netherlands.

Day 5: Cuijck – Arcen, 29 mi. (48 km) 
Today a magnificent bike tour is scheduled. You cycle along the Maas valley to Afferden and Heyen. The route continues through National Park Maasduinen to Well where you will find the Well castle with its heavy round brick tower dating from the 14th century.  The destination for today is Arcen. Here you will visit the famous castle gardens with great variety; the Rosarium, with ten different rose gardens; the water- and sculpture garden; the Lommerijk, with shades, waterfalls and streamlets; the Valley, offering six 'international' gardens ; Casa Verde, offering Mediterranean and tropical gardens; the Golf garden,with a view at the largest waterfall in the Netherlands.

Day 6: Arcen – Venlo – Roermond, 31 mi. (52 km) 
Again your bike route follows the Maas river. Here and there you cross by ferry or bridge in order to follow the most interesting paths. On the Nunhemmerheide you will visit the St. Ursula windmill dating from 1600. It is the only mill in Western Europe where oil is still obtained from rapeseed. Then you continue to Thorn, the 'white Village' on the Dutch/Belgian border known for its cobblestone streets and white painted houses. The only non-white building is the 14th-century church. Today's tour ends in the city of Roermond, where of the river Roer and Maas come together. Roermond is known by its rich cultural heritage. Since 1559 it has been a bishop city. In the center you will find many historical buildings. Roermond is also the city of Pierre Cuypers, according to many the most important Dutch architect of the 19th century. He is the architect of the Rijksmuseum and Central Station in Amsterdam.

Day 7: Roermond – Born| Born – Maastricht, 25 mi. (42 km) 
While you enjoy your breakfast, the barge takes you further upstream on the Maas river. At Maasbracht, the boat motors into Julianakanaal, a canalized part of the Maas river to Born, where your last cycle tour will start leading through charming villages and beautiful landscape in the south of the Limburg Province. The final destination of the tour will be the capital of this province Maastricht, perhaps the most charming and cozy city in the Netherlands. In the afternoon and after dinner, you will have time to stroll through this lovely city. In this town you find the treasure house of the St. Servaas Church, the Bonnefanten museum for art and antiquity, and the Kazematten, a system of underground fortress works from the 18th century. In addition to these places of interest, it is also worthwhile visiting the marl caves, or just to thoroughly enjoy yourself on the Vrijthof. You will not get bored!

Day 8: Departure
Disembarkation by 9:30 am.

Maastricht to Amsterdam

Day 1: Maastricht
Day 2: Maastricht – Born | Born – Roermond, 27 mi. (45 km)  
Day 3: Roermond – Venlo – Arcen, 31 mi. (52 km) 
Day 4: Arcen - Cuijk, 29 mi. (48 km)
Day 5: Cuijk - Maasbommel, 24 mil (40 km)
Day 6: Heusden - Gorinchem | Gorinchem - Vianen, 29 mi. (49 km)
Day 7: Vianen - Breukelen | Breukelen - Amsterdam, 24 mi. (40 km)
Day 8: Amsterdam

Day 1: Maastricht
In Maastricht the barge is moored at van Hasseltkade just north of the Wilhelmina bridge. After check in at 2 pm, there is time to explore the city of Maastricht, a beautifully preserved city with Roman roots. In this town you find the treasure house of the St. Servaas Church, the Bonnefanten museum for art and antiquity, and the Kazematten, a system of underground fortress works from the 18th century. In addition to these places of interest, it is also worthwhile visiting the marl caves, or just to thoroughly enjoy yourself on the Vrijthof. You will not get bored! After dinner you can test the bikes (approx 10 km/6 miles).

Day 2: Maastricht – Born | Born – Roermond, 27 mi. (45 km)
During breakfast you join the barge to Born via the Juliana Canal, where you disembark at the locks. From here you bike over the Dutch/Belgian border into Belgium to Maaseik. This town is famous for the painters Hubert and Jan van Eyck. On the market square you see typical renaissance houses with their impressive facades. You can also use the opportunity to try a Belgian “pint” on this beautiful square. Then you continue to Thorn, the 'white Village' on the Dutch/Belgian border known for its cobblestone streets and white painted houses. The only building that is not white is the 14th-century church. Our destination for today is the city of Roermond, where of the river Roer and Maas come together. Roermond is known by it's rich cultural heritage. Since 1559 it has been a bishop city. In the center you will find many historical buildings. Roermond is also the city of Pierre Cuypers, according to many the most important Dutch architect of the 19th century. He is the architect of the Rijksmuseum and Central Station in Amsterdam. 

Day 3: Roermond – Venlo – Arcen, 31 mi. (52 km) 
Today you start biking from Roermond. First you will visit the St. Ursula windmill on the Nunhemmerheide you visit dating from 1600. It is the only mill in Western Europe where oil is still obtained from rapeseed. Then you continue to Venlo, an ancient city dating back to the Romans. In the afternoon you bike to Arcen, another charming place on the banks of the river Maas.

Day 4: Arcen - Cuijk, 29 mi. (48 km)
The day starts in Arcen with a visit to the famous castle gardens with a great variety: the Rosarium, with ten different rose gardens; the water- and sculpture garden; the Lommerijk, with shades, waterfalls and streamlets; the Valley, offering six 'international' gardens ; Casa Verde, offering Mediterranean and tropical gardens; the Golf garden,with a view at the largest waterfall in the Netherlands. Today a magnificent bike tour is on the program. First you will bike pass Well where you find the Well castle with its heavy round brick tower dating from the 14th century. You continue through the National Park Maasduinen close to the German border. You will find the barge again in Cuijk, another interesting city on the banks of the Maas. The St. Martin's Church, a neo-gothic church houses very well kept baroque organ (built 1639-1650). This organ is one of the oldest in the Netherlands.

Day 5: Cuijk - Maasbommel, 24 mil (40 km)
Today you bike from Cuijk along the Maas river to the cities Grave and Ravenstein. Both are medieval cities. In Grave you will see canons from the time of Napoleon. Grave has also played an important role in Operation Market Garden during the second world war, because it was situated near an important bridge. This bridge is now called John S. Thompson Bridge. In Ravenstein you can visit the Tanner’s Cottages in the city park. From Maasbommel you will join the barge again on which you will have a nice sail to Heusden, a very beautifully restored fortified city.

Day 6: Heusden - Gorinchem | Gorinchem - Vianen, 29 mi. (49 km)
In the morning you will join the barge to Gorinchem, a charming town on the river Waal. From there you cycle through a typical Dutch landscape to Leerdam a little town on the banks of the river Linge. Leerdam is famous for its glasswork. You can visit a glass blower. In the afternoon you continue to Vianen, a small fortified town on the river Lek. But before you arrive there you will visit a real Dutch cheese farm, where cheese is still produced according to traditional methods.

Day 7: Vianen - Breukelen | Breukelen - Amsterdam, 24 mi. (40 km)
You will sail during breakfast. Today’s bike tour, that starts in Breukelen leads along the winding river Vecht to Amsterdam. In Loenen you will visit a mill. Final destination is Amsterdam, where you can take a tour through the canals or visit the Rijksmuseum or the van Gogh museum.

Day 8: Amsterdam
End of tour. Disembarkation after breakfast, by 9:30 am.

In Italics will be covered by the ship

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• Amsterdam to Maastricht